Evergen VPP: An Independent Review

Note: Solar Choice has no incentive to promote one VPP program over another. This review is designed to educate customers with unbiased information and opinions.

VPP Overview

Evergen is an Australian software company that provides Virtual Power Plant (VPP) management and optimisation services. Unlike energy retailers such as Origin or AGL, Evergen does not sell electricity plans directly. Instead, their Intelligent Control platform enables electricity retailers and networks to run VPPs by connecting and orchestrating thousands of distributed home batteries.

Company behind it: Evergen, founded in Australia in 2015.
Partnerships: Works with major electricity retailers (Origin Energy, ENGIE, EnergyAustralia, among others) and networks (Ausgrid, SA Power Networks).
Commencement: Evergen-powered VPP programs have been running since around 2019.
Participants: Not publicly disclosed; individual trials have involved hundreds of homes.
Geographical limitations: Availability depends on which retailer or network you join through. Current Evergen-powered VPPs operate in NSW, VIC, SA, QLD and ACT.

Learn more at our VPP overview or compare providers at Solar Choice’s VPP comparison page.

Financial Benefits Offered

The incentives vary by the retailer program using Evergen’s platform:

Origin Loop (Evergen-powered): $200 sign-up bonus, $1/kWh dispatched (capped at 200kWh per year), plus Origin’s standard feed-in tariff.
ENGIE VPP: $100 sign-up bonus, monthly bill credits (~$15–20 depending on state), and access to wholesale-linked FiTs.
EnergyAustralia Battery Ease: $180 annual bill credit plus 12c/kWh FiT for the first 15kWh exported daily.

Expected savings with a 15kWh battery

For a fixed-rate VPP like Origin Loop, the maximum benefit is $200/year from event dispatch, plus normal feed-in credits. For wholesale-linked programs like ENGIE, potential returns are higher in price spike events but vary year to year. Evergen also provides optimisation that may reduce household bills even outside VPP events.

See our Solar Battery Calculator to model potential savings for your household.

Electricity Tariff / Rates

Joining an Evergen-powered VPP means you’ll be on your retailer’s electricity plan. Rates and FiTs depend on the provider and state. To check live tariffs and availability by state, use the Solar Choice tool below:

For further information see our electricity comparison guide.

Battery and System Requirements

Requirements differ depending on the program and retailer:

Supported brands: Tesla, Sungrow, Goodwe, Alpha ESS, SolaX (G4 only), LG, and more.
Minimum capacity: Typically 5–9kWh, depending on the program.
Inverter requirements: Some programs specify a minimum of 5kW inverter size.
Smart meter: Generally required.
Internet: A reliable broadband or 4G connection is required for Evergen’s cloud-based control.

See our independent battery reviews for compatibility details.

Contract Length and Exit Terms

Evergen itself does not set contracts – these are determined by the retailer:

No lock-in examples: ENGIE’s VPP is advertised as no contract lock-in.
Buy-with-discount programs: If you take an upfront battery discount, terms may extend to 5 years, with early exit penalties requiring repayment of the discount.
BYO battery programs: Generally month-to-month with the ability to leave with 20 days’ notice.

See provider-specific reviews: Origin Loop, ENGIE VPP, AGL VPP, ShineHub VPP.

Technical Operations

Dispatch events: Triggered during peak demand or high wholesale price events.
Annual limits: Some programs impose caps, such as Origin’s 200kWh per year discharge limit.
Battery reserve: Many programs allow homeowners to set a minimum backup reserve to protect their battery during outages.
Connectivity: Batteries must remain online >90% of the time or credits may be forfeited.

Customer Experience

Monitoring: Some programs use the retailer’s app (e.g. Origin app), while others give access to Evergen’s monitoring portal.
Transparency: Retailers typically show VPP credits on bills.
Support: Split between your installer, hardware manufacturer, Evergen, and your retailer.

Pros & Cons of Evergen VPPs

Pros

Wide battery brand compatibility.
Access to multiple retailer offers underpinned by the same platform.
Intelligent optimisation can deliver additional household savings.

Cons

Earnings highly variable and sometimes capped.
Customers must manage separate contracts (retailer + VPP + hardware).
Reliant on internet connectivity.

James Shand

Marketing Manager at Solar Choice

With half a decade experience in the solar energy industry, specialising in business strategy and marketing for solar companies. He has worked with top solar distributors in Canada and now collaborates with solar manufacturers and installers across Australia via Solar Choice, Australia's leading solar comparison platform. With degrees in business technology, science, and marketing, James combines in-depth market insights with technical knowledge, positioning him as a trusted authority in renewable energy.